SSC CGL Polity · Government Structure — Parliament, Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies
Union Executive and Constitutional Bodies
The President and Vice-President article by article, the law officers of the Union, and the constitutional bodies: the CAG, the Finance Commission, the Election Commission and the Public Service Commissions.
Why this matters
Twenty-nine questions in the bank: ten from the 2023 shifts, 13 from the 2024 shifts and six from the 2025 shifts, 19 of them EASY. Most give an Article number and ask what it does, or the other way round, so the Article tables on this page are the fastest marks in Polity.
Concept 1 of 3: President and Vice-President
Definition
The President:
- Art 54: elected by an electoral college of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and of the State Assemblies.
- Art 56: five-year term. Art 57: eligible for re-election. Art 58: a citizen of at least 35 years who is qualified for the Lok Sabha. A candidate deposits Rs 15,000.
- Art 59: not a member of either House, holds no other office of profit, uses his official residence without paying rent, and his allowances cannot be cut during his term.
- Art 61 (impeachment): may start in either House; the charges must be signed by one-fourth of its members, with 14 days' notice; each House must pass it by two-thirds of its total membership.
- Art 72: power to pardon. Art 75: appoints the Prime Minister. Art 77: all executive action is taken in his name. Art 123: ordinances when Parliament is not sitting.
The Vice-President: Art 63 creates the office; Art 69: he takes his oath before the President.
| Article | Subject |
|---|---|
| 54 | Election of the PresidentQ |
| 57 | President eligible for re-electionQ |
| 61 | Impeachment of the PresidentQ |
| 63 | There shall be a Vice-PresidentQ |
| 72 | President's power to pardonQ |
| 75 | Prime Minister appointed by the PresidentQ |
| 77 | Conduct of business of the Government of IndiaQ |
| 123 | President's power to make ordinancesQ |
Practice this conceptself-check · 5 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 1 · Government Structure — Parliament, Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies · Union Executive and Constitutional Bodies
One-fourth to sign, not one-third
The Chief Justice swears in the President, not the Vice-President
Concept 2 of 3: Law officers of the Union
Definition
The officers:
- Attorney General of India (Art 76): the first (highest) law officer of the country, appointed by the President.
- Solicitor General: helps the Attorney General. The Constitution does not create this post; the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet fills it. Tushar Mehta has held it since 2018 and was re-appointed in 2023.
- A State's highest law officer is its Advocate General (Art 165); see the page on the States.
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 2 · Government Structure — Parliament, Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies · Union Executive and Constitutional Bodies
Attorney General for India, Advocate General for a State
Concept 3 of 3: CAG, Finance Commission, Election Commission and PSCs
Definition
The bodies:
- Comptroller and Auditor General (Art 148): heads the Indian Audit and Accounts Department; holds office for six years or until 65. K. Sanjay Murthy became CAG in November 2024, succeeding Girish Chandra Murmu.
- Finance Commission (Art 280): set up by the President every five years; reports to the President. Its recommendations are advisory, not binding.
- Election Commission (Art 324): set up on 25 January 1950 (now National Voters' Day). The Chief Election Commissioner serves six years or until 65. The first CEC was Sukumar Sen.
- Public Service Commissions: Art 320 gives their functions (conducting examinations for Union and State services); Art 323 requires annual reports to the President or Governor. The President makes the rules on UPSC members' service (Art 318). A State PSC chairman is appointed by the Governor but removed only by the President (Art 317). The UPSC grew out of the Federal PSC of the 1935 Act.
Practice this conceptself-check · 5 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 3 · Government Structure — Parliament, Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies · Union Executive and Constitutional Bodies
The CAG's term is six years
The President, not Parliament, regulates the UPSC's members
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (3)
President and Vice-President8 rows
| Article | Subject |
|---|---|
| 54 | Election of the PresidentQ |
| 57 | President eligible for re-electionQ |
| 61 | Impeachment of the PresidentQ |
| 63 | There shall be a Vice-PresidentQ |
| 72 | President's power to pardonQ |
| 75 | Prime Minister appointed by the PresidentQ |
| 77 | Conduct of business of the Government of IndiaQ |
| 123 | President's power to make ordinancesQ |
Watch out for (5)
- One-fourth to sign, not one-third→ President and Vice-President
- The Chief Justice swears in the President, not the Vice-President→ President and Vice-President
- Attorney General for India, Advocate General for a State→ Law officers of the Union
- The CAG's term is six years→ CAG, Finance Commission, Election Commission and PSCs
- The President, not Parliament, regulates the UPSC's members→ CAG, Finance Commission, Election Commission and PSCs
Test yourself on Government Structure — Parliament, Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies
20 past SSC CGL questions from this chapter, timed at 12 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.